Industry News

LONGTIME FIRE SERVICE LEADER KARLRISTOWTO RECEIVE NFFFGLATFELTER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is recognizing Chief Karl Ristow, CFO, as the newest recipient of the organization’s Arthur J. Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award.

Chief Ristow, who currently serves as the Program Director for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) program at the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), is being recognized for his many and varied contributions to the NFFF, according to Troy Markel, Chairman of the NFFF Board Of Directors.

“Karl is a tireless advocate for the Foundation and the fire service in general,” Markel said. “His dedication sets the bar for the rest of us to follow.”

Chief Ristow became involved in the NFFF in 2007, when he served on the incident management team that developed and executed the memorial service and burials for nine Charleston, South Carolina firefighters killed while fighting a fire at the Super Sofa Store. Since then, as a volunteer, donor, and educator, Ristow has supported the NFFF in raising awareness and funds for its prevention and support missions.

Chief Ristow is second Chairman and National Coordinator for the NFFF Memorial Golf Tournaments program. In the five years that Chief Ristow has dedicated his time and energy, the tournaments have raised more than $1.7 million in support of the NFFF.

Along with his wife, Barbara, Chief Ristow volunteers for the Hal Bruno bereavement camps for the children of fallen firefighters, serving as Big Buddies, Healing Circle Assistants, and Floaters. The Ristow's are also members of the NFFF Giving Circle, a group comprised of the Foundation’s most generous financial donors.

Karl’s commitment to the fire and emergency service family is evident in both his accreditation work with the CPSE and his dedicated volunteering with the NFFF, shared CPSE Chief Executive Officer, Preet Bassi. “Both organizations are lucky to have him as part of our teams.” Before joining CPSE, Chief Ristow served as Fire Chief for the St. John’s Fire District in South Carolina for 14 years and as a Resident Training Specialist for the South Carolina Fire Academy. Chief Ristow is a retired United States Air Force Fire Protection Supervisor. He holds a master’s degree in Management and Public Administration, a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and associate degrees in Fire Science and Instructor of Technology and Military Science. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, a Chief Fire Officer Designee through the Commission on Professional Credentialing, and a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (MIFireE).

The NFFF created the Arthur J. Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award to recognize exceptional service to the NFFF by men and women who continue in support of Glatfelter’s legacy as a champion of the fire service. In 1969, Glatfelter created the Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services (VFIS), the first company of its kind to meet the insurance needs for firefighters. Glatfelter was also an enthusiastic advocate for the NFFF and its missions and served for many years on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Chief Ristow will be presented the Glatfelter Distinguished Service Award by Tony Campisi, Chairman of the Glatfelter Insurance Group, on March 22, 2022 during the opening session of the CPSE Excellence Conference in Orlando, FL. “Chief Ristow represents everything that Art Glatfelter stood for,” Campisi said. “We are grateful for leaders who carry the standard for the fire service, and it’s a privilege to present Chief Ristow with this award.” The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation was created by Congress in 1992 to honor and recognize firefighters who died in the line of duty each year. To meet this mandate, the Foundation reviews the circumstances of each firefighter fatality reported to determine whether the death also meets criteria for inclusion on the National Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The guidelines by which these determinations are governed can be found on our website at https://www.firehero.org/fallen-firefighters/memorial/. The NFFF is closely reviewing COVID-related deaths to determine eligibility for inclusion on the National Memorial.

SUTPHEN CORPORATION TO DISPLAYNEW TRACTOR DRAWN AERIALIN FDIC BOOTH 3324

Sutphen Corporation, the largest family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer in the nation, announces that FDIC 2022 will be the showcase venue for Sutphen’s new Tractor Drawn Aerial.

The tractor drawn aerial will add to Sutphen’s already extensive product lineup and will be the first Sutphen TDAsince the 1990s.

“We cannot wait to showcase this new product at FDIC 2022,” said fourth-generation family member and Sutphen vice president, Julie Sutphen Phelps. “We know this will be the talk of the show, and we are excited to unveil the Sutphen TDAin front of such a large audience.”

The truck, destined for DeKalb County Fire Rescue in Dekalb County, Georgia, will be available to see in Sutphen Booth #3324 in the Indiana Convention Center Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30. “This is why people go to FDIC,” said Sutphen’s director of sales and marketing, Zach Rudy. “People go to FDIC for the excitement and the unveiling of new products across the fire industry. We know that the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium will be abuzz with talk of the Sutphen Tractor Drawn Aerial.” If customers have questions or would like additional details about the apparatus prior to the show, they are encouraged to contact their Sutphen dealer.

Customers can find their Sutphen dealer by following the link here: https://www.sutphen.com/locations/.

FireNews.com Fire News, May/June 2022, Page 29 Orange Firefighters Ran Record

Numberof Calls During 2021

The Connecticut General Assembly recently recognized the work of three Orange (CT) Volunteer Fire Department members who have given a total of 140 years of work to the department. Firefighters also learned they had responded to a record number of calls during 2021.

The honors were announced at the Orange Volunteer Fire Association’s Annual Dinner at the Grassy Hill Country Club, during which Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas thanked the members and their families for sacrificing and volunteering their time to the department.

The members recognized for their service were Keith Anderson and Charles Gagel, 45 years, and John Knight, 50 years. John Knight and Charles Gagel are past-Chiefs and Keith Anderson is a past-Deputy Chief. All were presented with individual proclamations. Anderson received his recognition from State Rep. Mary Welander, D-114; Gagel his from State Rep. Kathy Kennedy, R-119; and Knight received his proclamation from State Rep. Charles J. Ferraro, R-119.

Ferraro, Kennedy, and Welander, along with State Sen. James Maroney, D-14, spoke to the 160 people in attendance, paying tribute to the firefighters for their service and commitment to the Town of Orange. In addition to the state officials, First Selectman James Zeoli and Selectwoman Judy Williams attended the dinner.

Fire Chief Vaughan Dumas said the department responded to a record 685 calls for service during 2021. He also said the department had a “robust” roster of firefighters and attributed that to the junior firefighter program established during the year, the department’s program for University of New Haven students and the Personnel Recruitment Committee.

The 2022 Orange Fire Department officers were sworn in. With First Selectman Zeoli administering the oath of office, the new officers sworn in were: Vaughan Dumas, Fire Chief; Charles Sherwood, Deputy Fire Chief; Dan Cole and Eric Auscavitch, Assistant Fire Chiefs; Joseph Duplinsky and David Tufano, Captains; Dan Abrams, Eric Demeraski and Vaughan Dumas Jr., Lieutenants; and Leo Moran and John Hudson, Executive Board Members.

Administrative Officers include Peter Daniel, Recording Secretary; Lisa Kaplan, Corresponding Secretary; Bert Gallant, Treasurer; and Art Williams, Assistant Treasurer. - Submitted by Doug Fenichel

Charlton’s Robertson Calls it a Career

Recently the Charlton (MA) Fire Department celebrated the retirement of Firefighter/Paramedic Danielle Robertson. Danielle was very active within the SAFE program and has been honored forhermany EMS calls. She has had a cardiac arrest save and delivered a child in the field … both were able to attend herparty. She is pictured here receiving citations forhergreat career. Good luck Dani in yourfuture endeavors!

- Fire News photo by Bud Harris

Nashua’s Chief Brian Rhodes Calls it a Career

Nashua (NH) Fire Chief Brian Rhodes worked his last shift on February 19, 2022, after serving the City of Nashua for 35 years.

Chief Rhodes began his career with Nashua Fire Rescue in 1987. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2000, Captain in 2004, Deputy Chief in 2011, Assistant Chief in June of 2015, and his current position in April of 2018. An open house was held at Nashua Fire Headquarters that was attended by department members, friends, family and many fire officers from around New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

After the open house Rhodes signed off, and walked out the door of fire headquarters one last time.

Assistant Chief Steve Buxton was officially sworn in as Chief of the Department on March 1, 2022. - Fire News photos by Jeffrey Hastings

FCAM Gets Apparatus to Tornado Torn Kentucky

The Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts (FCAM) is pleased to announce that Cayce, Kentucky’s, fire chief met two Massachusetts fire chiefs at the FCAM Conference, after FCAM helped to coordinate the donation of a tanker truck to the Cayce Fire Department following the destruction of all their apparatus in a tornado late last year.

On March 2, 2022, Cayce Fire Chief Wade Adams met Rochester Fire Chief Scott Weigel and FCAM President Michael Winn in person for the first time at FCAM’s annual Professional Development Conference,

FCAM President Winn reached out to the Kentucky Association of Fire Chiefs offering assistance. President Winn was then put in contact with Chief Adams whose fire station and apparatus fleet were destroyed by the tornado.

With the assistance of FCAM, the Rochester Fire Department coordinated the delivery of the tanker to Kentucky.

The tanker left Massachusetts on Monday, January 10 and arrived in Cayce on Tuesday, January 11. The tanker was transported by RYCO Excavation employee Jim Wiksten, who served for 35 years with the Middleboro Fire Department. - Submitted by Taylor O’Neil; photos courtesy of the FCAM

One Last Time!

Boston District Chief Paul Carey (center) and his crew of Engine 7 and Ladder17. This was the chief’s last fire after39 years of service. His retirement was effective at the end of this tour. - Fire News photo by Paul Shea

Battle of the Badges Raises Over$210,000

The CHaD (Children’s Hospital at DartmouthHitchcock) Battle of the Badges hockey game was played in Manchester (NH) on March 13, 2022, at the SNHU Arena. The annual tradition raises funds for CHaD as members of the fire service battle members of law enforcement.

Fundraising before game’s end was already in excess of $210,000, a number that will continue to grow thanks to additional incoming donations. Coming into the game, Team Police was leading the fundraising efforts with Team Fire trailing closely behind.

In the 14 years the game has been held, the police and fire representatives have raised over $2.9 Million for CHaD.

Each player raises $1,000 with most surpassing that goal and 99 percent of Team Police members have raised over $1,500.

The dropping of the ceremonial puck was done by Manchester Fire Captain Steve DesRuisseaux, who suffered severe burns in a Manchester fire while attempting to rescue occupants from a multi-unit apartment building on Dutton Street. DesRuisseax is a former Badges Hockey player who represented Team Fire in 2009-2012, 2014, and 2015, and raised over $16,000 for CHaD during those years.

Team Police won the game 5 to 3, but the true winners are the kids from CHaD who will benefit from the fundraising effort of all people involved. - Fire News photo Jeffrey Hastings

Old Lyme Holds Pet CPR, First Aid Seminar

On February 28, 2022, the Old Lyme (CT) Fire Department hosted a Pet CPR and First Aid for First Responders training class forits members. Taught by a fellow first responder(a 30-plus yearseasoned pre-hospital emergency medical care providerand educatorfrom New York), members participated in hands-on skills practice in emergency muzzling, CPR and choking management forall size dogs/cats as well as hemorrhage control techniques (including tourniquets and impalements). The members thoroughly enjoyed the training! - Fire News photo by Tom Rinelli, Paws N Claws 911

FireNews.com Fire News, May/June 2022, Page 31 Hartford Promotions 2022

The following members of the Hartford (CT) Fire Department were promoted on April 1, 2022.

Assistant Chief of Operations, Harry J. Tulier - Tour Commander; Deputy Chief, Robert Patrissi, promoted on December 5, 2021 - District Chief; Mario Oquendo, Jr., promoted on August 23, 2020 - District Chief; and Joseph DeLeo, promoted on February 27, 2022 - District Chief.

Darius Ledas, promoted on February 27, 2022 - Captain Special Services Unit; Jose R. Rivera, Jr., promoted on February 27, 2022 Fire Captain; and Robert O’Neil, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Captain.

Gerald Bancroft, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Lieutenant; Edwin Acosta, Jr., promoted on June 20, 2021 - Training Lieutenant; Edwin Carrillo, promoted on November 15, 2021 - Fire Marshal Lieutenant; Vifredo Santana, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Marshal Lieutenant; Joseph A. Huertas, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Marshal Lieutenant; Ricardo E. Rey, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Marshal Lieutenant; and Antoine R. Smith, promoted on March 25, 2022 - Fire Marshal Lieutenant;.

Kevin Burke, promoted on March 31, 2022 - District Chief Aide.

Mary B Rodriguez, promoted on June 20, 2021 - Driver; Marcel Arnold, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Brent Bowman, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Luis Changanaqui, promoted on January 16, 2022 Driver; Natanael Cruz-Ambrosy, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; David Dobson, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Dwight Harmon, promoted on January 16, 2022 Driver; Sean Martin, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Ryan Matthews, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Andrew Nichols, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Michael Pawelec, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Stephen Regina, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Mercedes Rodriguez, promoted on January 16, 2022 Driver; Geraldo Sanchez, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Alexis Torres, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Mark Vazquez, promoted on January 16, 2022 - Driver; Brevon Williams, promoted on January 16, 2022 Driver.

- Fire News photos by Patrick Dooley

New Apparatus for Northampton

Northampton (MA) took delivery of this 2021 Pierce Enforcer Rescue Engine 750/1500. The new engine went into service March 8, 2022 and will run out of headquarters. - Fire News photo by John DeForest

PRIDEStar EMS is proud to share that two paramedics from its Trinity EMS Division were honored by the Haverhill (MA) City Council recently for reviving a Haverhill resident.

The Haverhill City Council and Mayor James J. Fiorentini presented Paramedics Samantha Kuenzler and Bobby Thorne with a certificate recognizing their quick response and lifesaving work.

Paramedics Kuenzler and Thorne performed approximately 18 minutes of CPR and used an AED to revive Steven St. Germaine after he suffered cardiac arrest while outside his home next to PRIDEStar’s Haverhill base.

PAfter reviving St. Germaine, Paramedics Kuenzler and Thorne transported the patient to Lawrence General Hospital, where he recovered.

St. Germaine and his family attended the City Council meeting and reunited with Kuenzler and Thorne, sharing hugs and conversation after the council’s presentation.

City officials praised Paramedics Kuenzler and Thorne for their actions, and thanked PRIDEStar EMS and Trinity EMS for its high level of care.

“We have some true heroes in our community,” Mayor James Fiorentini said. “We are very, very proud of you and your service.”

“Too often we don’t recognize the people that do the day-to-day work,” Councilor Joseph Bevliacqua said. “I want to thank you, and let you know that you are noticed.”

It was truly a joy to see Mr. St. Germaine smiling along with his family.” - Photo courtesy PRIDEStar EMS

PRIDEStarParamedics Honored forSave